The Lost Goddess

Busted

NICO

Nico'd been healthy for days now, but he still hung around the infirmary with Will.

More things happened there than you'd think. In two weeks he'd seen kids with broken limbs, depleted life energy, objects lodged in throats, and poisonus stingers in stomachs.

Mostly he would go around the side of the infirmary and experiment with his powers, since he'd recently discovered how vast they were, but mostly he could be found parked in a corner silently observing all of the activity.

Currently, Nico was watching Will clean a gash on a girl's shoulder.

It was sweet, how gentle he was with her. The gash was deep, and when she'd come in, was bleeding profusely, and she was in obvoius pain, yet with he'd healed her with only tissue, band aids, and water.

Nico would never understand it, Will's magical touch. He seemed to better everything that was broken, everything that he touched, and yet at the end of the day he could still beat himself up about what he should've done.

Maybe it was an Apollo thing.

Will was just finishing bandaging the girl up when Percy walked into the infirmary, looking extremely nervous.

He went over to Will and mumbled a few things. Will nodded, and gestured for Nico to come over.

He did so, and Will proceeded to put some medical stuff inside a little bag and follow Percy out of the building, with Nico tagging along.

This happened a lot, Will taking Nico along to his various missions. Nico had asked Will why he wanted him there, and Will had replied with

"For moral support. Because you're such a joyful person."

Nico had no idea what to make of it, but it sort of mollified him that Will liked being near him.

After walking for a bit, they arrived at the Athena cabin, where Annabeth was passed out in her bunk.

"Something's wrong with her," Percy said, tappng his foot at lightning speed. "She was acting so confused, and.. i dont know, she's never acted confused. She's Annabeth."

Will stood over Annabeth and laid the back of his hand on her forehead, then put two fingers on her neck, then put a finger under her nose.

Will backed up, and put a hand on his hip.

"Open your eyes Annabeth, you're not asleep."

Annabeth didn't move.

Will softly grabbed a piece of her hair, and slid it into her own ear.

Annabeth swatted away at her ear, in the process sitting up, and Nico suppressed a smile.

Once all had settled down, Will sat himself on the edge of her bed, as did Percy, while Nico remained by the door.

Will proceeded to stare at Annabeth intensely until she raised a shaky hand to smooth down her wild blonde hair.

Percy's face was the image of pity.

"I think you know the problem," Will said to Annabeth quietly.

She shook her head no.

"Then why were you pretending to sleep?"

"I didn't want to talk. I'm really tired."

"Are you sick?"

"Probably."

Will took a thermometer out of his bag and gave it to Annabeth.

She took her temperaure, looked at it, and gave it back to Will.

"Four degrees higher than normal. And your pulse was a little fast. And...."

Will leaned into Annabeth's face.

"Your pupils are dilated."

Annabeth backed into the wall on her bed and started talking insanely fast.

"So? What does it mean Will? Are you going to put me in a hospital because i'm sick? Am I even sick? Dilated pupils. What is that a symptom of, since you know everything. What's wrong with me! Give me the diagnosis! i-i-"

Annabeth started to cry, and Percy scooted next to her and put an arm around her.

Nico had never seen anything like this. Maybe something was seriously wrong.

Percy was trying to comfort Annabeth, and Will looked facinated.

"Should I get Dionysus,?" Nico asked, attempting to help.

Bad move.

Annabeth's head snapped up.

"Call Dionysus?! Do you think I'm mentally unwell, Nico Di Angelo?! 'Should I get Dionysus' I'm not CRAZY!"

At crazy, Annabeth had stood up and was launching pillows at Nico, who wasn't as scared as shocked.

Percy had tried to grab her, but she started swinging, until Will grabbed her from behind.

Annabeth swung around and her fist slammed into Will's face, making stumble back five steps. At that point, Nico had started to go get help, but people were already rushing towards the commotion.

First in was Chiron, who upon seeing Annabeth rushed up and attemped to calm her down.

He must've had some effect, because while she was still yelling she wasn't trying to slap anyone anymore.

Nico, out of the corner of his eye, saw Dionysus walking across the threshold. He flicked his wrist.

Annabeth paused midthrow and sat down on her bed abruptly. She stared straight ahead and made no sound.

At that moment, Dionysus cleared his throat, and the others noticed his presence.

The god casually walked into the Athena cabin, putting things back in order with waves of his hand.

Dionysus walked over to where the demigods were and reguarded Annabeth with little interest.

"Poison. Or drugs. Most likely drugs. Looks as if she's on cocaine, but it could be Drathm."

Percy was quick to reply.

"You think Annabeth's on drugs? Not possible. I mean, why? She has no motives." He looked angry that Dionysus would even imply that.

The god shrugged.

"Not my problem, but since Annalise has a reputation for being attacked by monsters, I would suggest she stop. Not that I care."

Will, who had been poking around Annabeth's bed, sighed loud enough for everyone to turn to him.

He stood up, and in his palm lay a blue leaf.

Percy said nothing, but his eyes glistened. Which wasn't unusual. Surprisingly, since he was a son of Poseidon, he tended to cry easily, except Nico assumed that people over looked it due to his intense heroicness.

Chiron looked down at a barely conscious Annabeth, and sadly said;

"I think I know why."

Everyone looked at him expectantly as he walked over to Will and plucked the leaf from Will's hand.

"It's Drathm," Said Chiron, "A sleeping drug. She simply might have been having trouble sleeping, and become addicted. It's very common."

Percy still looked upset.

"Annabeth wouldn't resort to drugs that easily. There must have been some problem other than the sleep thing."

Percy sat down next to Annabeth on the bed. He grabbed one of her hands and studied it.

"Can you unfreeze her?" Percy said, looking up at Dionysus.

Dionysus rolled his eyes, and waved a hand in Annabeth's general direction.

She sprung back to life.